CLEVELAND – White County will continue to provide ambulance service, but it’s going to cost taxpayers a whole lot more. During a meeting Monday night, the board of commissioners approved a three-year deal that will nearly double the current cost for emergency medical services for the same level of service.
Commissioners approved the contract after hearing from Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Director of Emergency Medical Transportation Scott Masters and White County EMS Director Bill Scandrett about the cost of service and staffing difficulties
White County’s EMS costs will increase by over $200,000 the first year – from $800,000 to $1,050,000 in fiscal year 2023. In 2024, the cost will rise to $1.3 million, and in 2025 it will increase again to $1,489,485.
It’s a substantial increase, but commission chair Travis Turner noted, “We’ve seen this over the last couple of months; everything that we are seeing is increasing in price from the pump to our groceries, unfortunately, here we are again.”
White County’s new EMS contract goes into effect July 1.
Insurance increase
Emergency service was not the only big-ticket item the commissioners had to address during their meeting. County Clerk Shanda Murphy told the commissioners that the county’s property and liability insurance rate will increase by 13.6 percent next fiscal year.
Murphy said the coverage for auto, property, and cyber protection will increase to $299,542. The county will have to add another $28,409 to its upcoming budget to cover that cost.
Commissioner Craig Bryant said he was surprised the increase wasn’t higher given that the county has 14 new cars and $3 million more in property on its books.
